“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3)
Yesterday we saw that God’s Kingdom is open to children. Today’s verse goes one step further: you can only enter the Kingdom of heaven if you become like a child! Being a child is not an obstacle, but rather a condition for living with God.
That seems like the world turned upside down. Many young people are trying their best to ‘grow up’ and ‘be a responsible adult’ to be valued in society. But apparently God’s Kingdom works completely differently.
Here, as so often, Jesus’ words force us to thoroughly review our own ideas. This affects not only our theoretical theological viewpoints, but also our lives. Jesus makes this very clear to His disciples, “Unless you change… you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:3, NIV).
By nature, we are not like little children. Of ourselves, therefore, we are unable to enter God’s Kingdom. We must change, we must repent, we must turn. Because being saved is not done our way, but God’s way.
Are you ready to take Jesus’ words seriously and change your life?